In the early-morning traffic around the 28 May crash, Raheem Sterling’s name moved from the familiar stadium circuit of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal into a police case that has now taken a further turn. The 31-year-old, currently without a club, admitted on Tuesday to charges of dangerous driving and drug possession, while footage of his arrest has since emerged.
Footage from the roadside
Police approached Sterling’s vehicle after receiving reports from several witnesses. The newly public video shows officers finding items which indicated he had been using nitrous oxide.
- An officer tells Sterling to put the item down as he appears disoriented inside the vehicle.
- When Sterling does not respond, an officer says that he is refusing to answer.
- After Sterling leaves the car, police tell him to put down his phone, stop playing games and not to tense up.
A witness describes the motorway encounter
One motorist said she spotted a Lamborghini on the motorway while travelling to work and looked over to see who was driving. She said she immediately recognised Sterling and then noticed that he was holding a balloon.
The driver said she believed it was being used for nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, and described the conduct as reckless. She said the episode left her fearing that a collision could have happened, adding that her children could have been left without their mother and calling Sterling’s behaviour unacceptable.
The case following the May accident
Sterling has accepted the charges brought after the incident on 28 May:
- Dangerous driving.
- Possession of drugs.
The case now stands against a player who has represented several of England’s most prominent clubs and is presently unattached, with the arrest footage adding a public account of the events surrounding the crash.
